Electric journey in style from Isles

Electric cars now have the range…and the power source back-up, and that's official.

Brian Whitington of Tighean Innse Gall drove over 1300 miles to demonstrate electric cars can make long journeys across the islands and way beyond.

He joined Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil outside Parliament in London to highlight action on climate change, which includes the switch to electric vehicles. TIG are well known for their work on making homes more energy efficient, but as part of overall advice for local folk across the islands they advise on electric vehicle use as well.

Angus joined the bid to promote the message that long journeys in electric vehicles are perfectly doable, and that all of us can Think Act Save on climate action.

Angus MacNeil MP said: “Great effort by Brian to drive from Stornoway to Parliament, showing it can be done in an electric car. The switch to electric cars is happening, and given we produce so much clean energy in our islands, it makes obvious sense for us to use it driving. We need to boost infrastructure for charging, and this is rapidly ongoing by Scottish Government.”

Stewart Wilson, TIG's chief eexecutive said: “TIG are always striving to help people with all their energy needs. Driving electric is going to be commonplace and we can show everyone how to do it. Obviously our car is designed to be a ‘wow factor’ but the only difference between driving this car to London and back and a smaller, cheaper car is the size of the battery and the number of charges”.

The car forms part of the Energy in Transition project which aims to advise more than 1000 households across the Outer Hebrides on how to reduce their energy consumption by 5%, with simple ideas on how to achieve this.